Marrakech
The Red City. Storytellers and food stalls in Jemaa el-Fna, the souks, the Majorelle Garden and the Bahia Palace, and riads where the noise falls away the moment the door closes.
Best for First impressions, shopping, food
Why Morocco
Morocco is one of the most exotic trips within easy reach of the East Coast. Wander Marrakech's souks, cross the Atlas Mountains and sleep under the stars in the Sahara.
Highlights
- Marrakech's medina
- Fes
- The Atlas Mountains
- A Sahara desert camp
Where to go in Morocco
The places our travelers love most, and what each one does best.
Getting around the classic route
- Casablanca to RabatAbout 1 hour by train
- Rabat to ChefchaouenAbout 4 hours by car
- Chefchaouen to FesAbout 4 hours by car
- Fes to MerzougaAbout 8 hours by car, over the Middle Atlas
- Merzouga to OuarzazateAbout 6 hours, via the Todra Gorge
- Ouarzazate to MarrakechAbout 4 hours over the High Atlas
- Marrakech to EssaouiraAbout 3 hours by car
Fes
The most intact of Morocco’s imperial medinas and one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world, with tanneries, madrasas and artisans at work. A local guide is essential here.
Best for History, crafts, architecture
Chefchaouen
A mountain town in the Rif washed in every shade of blue. Small, slow and photogenic, and one night is just right.
Best for Photographers, a gentle pace
The Atlas Mountains
Amazigh (Berber) villages, walnut groves and snowcapped peaks about 90 minutes from Marrakech. Stay at a mountain lodge and walk to a village for lunch.
Best for Walking, scenery, a quiet reset
The Sahara at Merzouga
The Erg Chebbi dunes rise close to 500 feet above the desert floor. Ride out at sunset and spend a night at a desert camp under an enormous sky.
Best for Bucket-list moments, stargazing
Ouarzazate & Aït Benhaddou
The road of a thousand kasbahs, with the earthen fortified village of Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a favorite film location.
Best for Architecture, film buffs, road-trippers
Essaouira
A whitewashed, wind-cooled port on the Atlantic, with blue fishing boats, art galleries and grilled fish by the harbor, about three hours from Marrakech.
Best for Slowing down, seafood, summer
Casablanca & Rabat
The soaring Hassan II Mosque, open to visitors of all faiths on guided tours, and Rabat, the calm, elegant capital with its seaside Kasbah of the Udayas.
Best for Architecture, arrival days
When to go
March to May and September to November. Summers are very hot inland.
Spring and fall bring warm days and cool nights almost everywhere, which is why they book first. Summer belongs to the coast and the mountains, and winter is crisp, sunny and wonderfully quiet.
- JanCool and sunny, snow on the Atlas
- FebAlmond blossom, crisp nights
- MarSpring arrives, green valleys
- AprIdeal touring weather
- MayWarm days, roses in the Dades
- JunHeat builds inland
- JulHot inland, breezy coast
- AugHottest month, coast is best
- SepHeat eases, still warm
- OctGolden light, cool nights
- NovMild days, quieter medinas
- DecSunny days, holiday week busy
Peak season Shoulder season Low season
Average temperatures and rainfall
Jan1.0″
Feb1.0″
Mar1.4″
Apr1.0″
May0.4″
Jun0.1″
Jul0.1″
Aug0.2″
Sep0.6″
Oct0.8″
Nov1.2″
Dec0.9″
Jan2.4″
Feb2.1″
Mar2.3″
Apr2.1″
May1.5″
Jun0.4″
Jul<0.1″
Aug0.2″
Sep0.9″
Oct2.1″
Nov2.6″
Dec2.4″
Average daily high and low in °F, with average monthly rainfall in inches.
Spring
March to May is Morocco at its best, with green valleys, wildflowers in the Atlas and comfortable days for exploring the medinas. Roses bloom in the Dades Valley in May. Easter weeks are popular, so we reserve the best riads early.
Summer
Average highs in Marrakech and Fes run from the mid 90s to about 100°F in July and August, so we plan early starts, long lunches and pool time. Breezy Essaouira and the High Atlas stay comfortable, and desert stays are best kept short.
Fall
Our favorite season. October and November bring golden light, warm days and cool nights, perfect for the Sahara and the kasbah road. September can still be hot inland, and rain picks up in Fes by November.
Winter
Sunny days in the 60s, chilly nights and snow on the High Atlas peaks. Desert nights can dip close to freezing, so we choose camps with heated tents. Christmas and New Year’s weeks are busy in Marrakech.
Ideas by month:
Trip ideas
Starting points only. Every Morocco trip we plan is built around you.
Imperial Cities and the Sahara
Casablanca, Fes, the desert and Marrakech.
Marrakech and the Mountains
A riad in the medina and a kasbah in the Atlas.
Where you'll stay
Riads, mountain kasbahs and luxury desert camps. We choose every hotel ourselves and know which rooms have the view.
Good to know
The small things that make a big difference once you land.
Planning around Ramadan
During Ramadan, many Moroccans fast from dawn to sunset. Hotels and sights stay open, some shops keep shorter hours, and the evenings are festive. In 2027 it’s expected to begin around February 8 and last about a month. Morocco also sets its clocks back an hour during Ramadan, and we adjust your timings to match.
Dress for respect and sun
Light, loose layers that cover shoulders and knees are respectful everywhere and practical in the heat. Most mosques are open only to Muslims, with the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca a beautiful exception.
Dirhams are local only
The dirham can’t be bought before you go or taken out of the country, so we’ll point you to ATMs or exchange desks on arrival. Cash helps in the souks and for small tips; hotels and nicer restaurants take cards.
A guide makes the medina
Licensed local guides open doors to artisan workshops and family-run spice shops in Fes and Marrakech, and keep you from getting lost. In the souks, friendly bargaining is part of the fun.
Tipping is customary
Round up or leave about 10 percent at restaurants, and plan small tips for porters, guides and drivers. We’ll send a simple tipping guide before you go.
Pack for two climates
Desert and mountain nights are cool even in spring and fall, and cold in winter. Bring a warm layer, a scarf for sun and dust, and comfortable shoes for cobblestones. Ask before photographing people.
Morocco questions
When is the best time to visit Morocco?
March to May and September to November. Summers are very hot inland.
How long should I spend in Morocco?
Most of our travelers spend 9 to 12 days in Morocco. We'll shape the length around what you want to see and how you like to travel.
Can Global Escapes plan a private trip to Morocco?
Yes. Every trip we plan to Morocco is designed around you, with hand-picked hotels, private guides where they make a difference and support while you travel. Call 706.549.1164 or tell us about your trip below.
Tell us about your Morocco dream.
Share as much or as little as you like. A member of our team will reach out personally to start shaping your trip.
Rather talk it through? Call 706.549.1164